Who painted 'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia'?

'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia' was painted by George de Sausmarez in 1855.

Where can I see 'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia'?

'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia' is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is 'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia'?

'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia' is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia'

George de Sausmarez , 1855

'Derr - Metropolis of Nubia' is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist George de Sausmarez. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The piece is a watercolour titled *Derr – Metropolis of Nubia*, signed and dated 1855.

About this work

"* The buildings look plain but neatly arranged, and the water reflects the sky just enough to keep things looking natural.

This watercolor shows a quiet riverside scene with simple buildings along the shore. Two small boats float on calm water, and trees line the edge of the land. The colors are soft—earthy browns, muted greens, and pale blues—with a light touch of paint.

The artist signed it in 1855, calling it *"Derr - Metropolis of Nubia."* The buildings look plain but neatly arranged, and the water reflects the sky just enough to keep things looking natural.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

Overview

The piece is a watercolour titled *Derr – Metropolis of Nubia*, signed and dated 1855. It forms part of a collection of forty‑five watercolours executed on thirty‑five mounted sheets that record scenes observed during a Nile expedition in the mid‑nineteenth century. The album that holds the work is bound in half‑crimson morocco leather with a music‑binder style and bears the stamp “EGYPT” on its cover.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a tranquil riverbank in Nubia, where modest structures line the shore in an orderly fashion. Two small boats drift on the placid water, while a fringe of trees borders the land. The composition conveys a calm, everyday landscape rather than a dramatic or historical narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed with a light wash of watercolour, the artist employs a restrained palette of earthy browns, muted greens and pale blues. The brushwork is delicate, allowing the water’s surface to reflect a softened sky and giving the scene a natural, unembellished quality.

History & Provenance

Created during or shortly after the artist’s 1855 journey along the Nile, the work entered a bound album that was later catalogued with an “EGYPT” label. The album’s binding and the watercolour’s signature confirm its origin and date, linking it to a broader series of travel sketches from the same expedition.

Context

Mid‑nineteenth‑century European interest in Egypt and Nubia produced numerous visual records intended for scholarly and popular audiences. This watercolour reflects that trend, offering a documentary view of a lesser‑known Nubian settlement within the larger framework of Nile travel literature.